Choir members remember trip to Russia in 1970

In 1970, Van H. Ramsey, minister of music at First Baptist Church in Shelby, took 144 young people to tour and sing in Russia.

Jackie Bridges / jbridges@shelbystar.com

In 1970, Van H. Ramsey, minister of music at First Baptist Church in Shelby, took 144 young people to tour and sing in Russia.

When Ramsey died in August, members of the choir and their parents reminisced about the trip, started a Facebook group (Good News Singers of America) and dusted off the album of patriotic music the choir recorded.

The trip to Russia was planned in response to an invitation from the Soviet Union's Minister of Culture, which was extended to the young people of North Carolina.

'Be pleasant and happy'

Before departing, Ramsey briefed the group about how to act in Russia.

"Of the greatest concern to me is our attitude," Ramsey wrote in a letter dated July 8, 1970, less than a month from their departure. "Please read all you possibly can about the Soviet Union. Read the Constitution of the United States. Engage in daily prayer that we can be effective ambassadors in the various contacts we will have along the way. Make every effort to be pleasant and happy."

Choir members memorized the songs on the program and sang not only in English, but in French, Russian and Latin, said Don Allen Jr., who now lives in High Point.

His father, Don Allen of Shelby, said Ramsey loved young people and music.

"We give thanks for his labor with all our young people in making this trip come true," Don Allen said.

He remembered helping with a fundraiser at Shelby High School.

"I purchased 100 turkeys from Tillmans Groceries and sent them out to families and others who had children going to Russia. They baked the turkeys with dressing and gravy and others did vegetables, cakes and pies," he said. "Fidelia Edney was in charge of making sweet tea. We had a 55 gallon barrel from Bost Bakery to make tea in. She had a huge wooden paddle to stir in the sugar and made real good tea. We had a tremendous crowd, feeding hundreds of good supporters. We had a good time, with lots of memories."

'Good Will Ambassadors' turned away at some places

When the group left from Charlotte Douglas Airport, Lt. Gov. Pat Taylor read a statement from Gov. Robert W. Scott. His statement was written on the back of the choir's album cover: "Having confidence in your musical abilities, your integrity and your love for our land, I appoint you and the Good News Singers of America Good Will Ambassadors from North Carolina and charge you to represent our state in the highest traditions of musical statesmanship."

Don Allen Jr. shared in a letter that the choir was not welcome at some of the places they were supposed to perform in Russia.

"We drove to a Pioneer Youth Camp one to two hours where we were suppose to sing, but camp was closed to us when we arrived due to an outbreak of illness in the camp," Allen Jr. said. "When we arrived, we saw hundreds of campers walk in front of us back to camp. They did not look sick to us.

"The story was that all of our concerts were cancelled in the Soviet Union. Gene Watterson (former First Baptist pastor) was our negotiator to get them back. The story is he had to be physically restrained as negotiations got fiery. Not sure how he did it, but we sang everywhere," Allen Jr. wrote.

Dealing with a different culture

On their 15-day trip, the group landed in London and spent two days there before traveling to Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev. Before returning home, they stopped and toured Versailles and Paris.

Beth Anthony McDaniel of Shelby said choir members were from 15 to 22 years old and they had eight adult chaperones. To make it easy to keep up with choir members, they wore their bright red, white and blue uniforms everywhere.

Her brother, Shelby Mayor Stan Anthony, also went on the trip. He and another choir member decided to take their white pants to a dry cleaners in one of the cities. But the cleaners was closed the next day, and they had to leave without their pants. For the rest of the trip, the two young men stood in the back of the group.

"It was a trip that changed my life," McDaniel said.

Trying the food and the drinks was also an experience, Allen Jr. said.

"In visiting around the Moscow hotel during our free time, we would stop in small shops and get something like a juice drink," Allen Jr. said. "It was served in a glass which was then reused. We were not used to that, of course. In Moscow we had borscht soup with every meal. We all called it surprise soup or frog eye soup. Someone said they found a frog's eye in the soup. Paying for things involved holding your hand out with change to the vendor and they would take what they wanted. I am sure they loved to see us coming."

'A memorable and life changing event'

Pat and Al Whatley of Shelby were dating on the trip and later married. They also wrote down their memories to share.

"The trip to Russia with Van Ramsey and The Good News Singers of America was full of special moments that made it a memorable and life changing event," Pat Whatley wrote. "My husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) and I sang, observed, learned, prayed, laughed and cried many times during this special trip. From little things like drink vending machines that had a single glass to be used and then left for the next person to use as well to major performances cancelled at the whim of that government, all made us appreciate the USA more than we even had before."

Whatley said the music was challenging, but Ramsey made the rehearsals fun. They learned to sing the Russian National Anthem in the Russian language. One of her favorite songs was "The Fifty Nifty United States," where all the names of the states were sung in a fun, lively piece, Whatley said.

Whatley also said the group was scheduled to attend a Christian church, but the bus driver wouldn't take them to the church. Watterson asked to be dropped off at a bridge near the church and the group walked from there.

"The church was so packed with people that we all stood around the edge of the balcony which covered three sides of the building and sang from there," Whatley said. "To see these Christian people who were willing to publicly worship even though they would be persecuted for doing so made a huge impact on our lives. We later learned that many people who openly lived for Christ lost their jobs as well as other personal freedoms."

Whatley said Ramsey was a role model for the choir members.

"Without Van Ramsey, this trip would never have happened. He made singing a wonderful experience. He was full of fun and yet, full of Christ at the same time. We learned so much about our country and our Christian faith from this man who worked diligently to make the Good News Singers of America a success and a life-changing experience," Whatley said. "Without a doubt, each person involved with this trip learned from his hard work, determination and Christlike love for the message we were allowed to take into Russia. I remember his special smile and the twinkle in his eye."

Van H. Ramsey was 74 when he died. During his ministry he served churches in Morganton, Lenoir, Florida, Missouri, and several towns in Alabama.